Chapter By Chapter (usually) features me reading one chapter of the selected book at a time and reviewing it as if I were reviewing an episode of a TV show or an issue of a comic. There will be spoilers if you haven’t read to the point I have, and if you’ve read further I ask that you don’t spoil anything further into the book. Think of it as read-along book club.

PART 2: KNIGHTQUEST

Our last chapter kind of got into the role play involved with how Batman in particular approaches superhero alter egos. We saw how he and Alfred took on their personas, Bruce so into the role he’s playing in his investigation that even the narrator refers to them as their fake identities rather than their regular selves. Meanwhile, John Paul is slowly corrupting his identity and there’s not much Tim/Robin can seem to do about it.

This does play well into this storyline’s theme of identities and corrupting the symbol of the Bat by Valley crossing that line and becoming judge, jury, and executioner, basically deciding who lives and who dies rather than the legal system. Valley plays by the other System, itself a corruption of Catholic sainthood and the ideals of the Catholic Church (whose record is admittedly spotty in spots and I say that as someone with a minor Catholic upbringing who doesn’t hate Catholicism just because a few parties lost their path along the journey). Will we see a further fall, and will Bruce get closer to saving Shondra and Jack? Let’s find out.

It’s a short chapter but one that fits my page count requirements so we’ll just do the one tonight. That works for my schedule. Sir Hemingford (Bruce) and loyal Charles (Alfred, though unlike Bruce he only plays the role when he’s around others while Bruce stays in character even when discussing the investigation with Alfred/Charles) arrive where the bad guys are. In character, Hemingford manages to make his way into the hall and get some bugs in place while bugging Benedict Asp along the way. This scene is oddly placed. At one point Asp is being woken up by Hemingford but that’s in-between his meeting with a general and taking him to see Shondra…yes, I called that she was the target. Given the treatment of Jack he’s probably just here as incentive. Hemingford barging into the hall demanding breakfast doesn’t seem to be happening at the same time, as he doesn’t seem to notice General Vega, nor does Asp apologise for any kind of interruption. If this takes place before the meeting there is no indication. O’Neil is an editor and this wasn’t his first novel so you’d think he would have caught something like that.

I also called the powers. Using Jack, she forces her to demonstrate her healing abilities. Apparently her singing is tied into that, but it must have limits given how long it’s taken to heal Jack, much of which has probably been undone by his rough carrying, and Bruce. Maybe the secrets Bruce keeps as Batman is tied to what’s holding her back but that shouldn’t be true for Jack unless Tim’s dad has a few secrets of his own. Speaking of secrets, we also learn that Benedict’s first name is actually Benjamin and that he and Shondra, formerly Sandra, are brother and sister…and that her ability apparently has a kill setting. What is Benedict forcing his sister to do? We’ll have to wait for that answer. Again, we see different names, different identities, different “roles”, this time by the doctor and the villain of this sub-arc.

The Gotham City parts almost feel like an unnecessary addition to the chapter, either to pad it out or to keep reminding us this part of the story is happening. The same theme of identities doesn’t come into play here. The GCPD is getting nothing out of Bane’s boys while John Paul knows this is his only chance to do his own interrogation. That’s basically the last two paragraphs of the chapter.

That part aside, the chapter does set up why Shondra was kidnapped and that Bruce is using his injury in his role. He may not be able to continue in the role of Batman but he use his detective skills to still help the people he cares about. Will Bane rescue his buddies? Will we learn Shondra/Sandra and Benedict/Benjamin’s full story? Join us next time and find out.